Dressing or Stuffing - Which Team Are You On?

Are you on Team Dressing or Team Stuffing?

TEXARKANA, Ark. –

Are you on Team Dressing or Team Stuffing? It probably depends upon where you were
raised. If you call it dressing, odds are you cook it separately from the turkey in
a side dish, and you live in the southern region of the United States. Otherwise,
you re likely a stuffing family, and you cook it in the turkey. One thing we likely
can all agree upon is that it would not be Thanksgiving without it.

I grew up on Team Dressing. That is all I have known. My grandmother made a huge roaster
pan full every year, and then plated it into a bowl to serve on the table. She started
days earlier cooking her cornbread to serve as the base. No white bread or bread crumbs
in her dressing. Then she chopped her onions and celery and made her chicken broth.
It was always a treat and I wondered why we only had it at Thanksgiving, but I digress.

To many, dressing or stuffing depends upon where you grew up at Many say that it depends
upon the bird; was it cooked inside the bird or outside? Inside the bird and it’s
stuffing; outside and it’s considered dressing. I personally think it is more of a
geographical issue.

Go south of the Mason-Dixon Line and in the Midwest and many call it dressing, regardless
of if it is prepared in the bird or alongside in a casserole dish. Likewise, northern
or northeastern states and the west coast typically lean toward stuffing.

If your Thanksgiving table has friends and relatives around it from various regions
of the country, chances are there may be a war of words on food terminology, as to
whether it is stuffing or dressing. There likely will be some discussion on whether
a certain side dish of starch and vegetables should be called “stuffing” or “dressing.”

Traditionally stuffing begins with sturdy white bread, while the most common ingredient
in dressing is cornbread. However, that may not hold true either. While bread is the
base for both dressing and stuffing, the rest may be as different as what you call
it. You may find white bread mixed with saltine crackers, oysters in coastal communities,
andouille sausage in Louisiana, or sourdough and mushrooms in California. Both likely
have similar herbs such as sage, poultry seasoning and thyme, and onions and celery
as a base.

Regardless of which side you are on, one thing we can all agree on is that this iconic
dish is delicious and a Thanksgiving Day table would not be complete without it. This
dressing recipe is one I have been making for several years now. It is a little different
from others but it is a moist, wonderful dressing that will have everyone asking for
seconds.

Fantastic Dressing

Bake 1 chicken or turkey rubbed with salt and pepper. Reserve the broth. If using
a smoked turkey, use 1/2 to 1 can of chicken broth.

Bake 1 pan of cornbread

Sage, salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

4 tablespoons margarine

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 eggs raw

3/4 cup skim milk

2 boiled eggs, chopped

Topping:

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup sour cream

Sauté the onion and celery in margarine. Allow to cool and lightly toss with mayonnaise.
In a large mixing bowl, crumble cornbread. Pour reserved chicken broth over cornbread,
until it is the consistency you like. (More broth equals moist dressing.) Sprinkle
with sage, salt and pepper as desired. Mix in celery, onion and mayonnaise mixture,
add chopped eggs. Beat together raw eggs and milk. Pour over mixture and stir. Pour
into 9 x 13 inch baking dish that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Cover
and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to bake dressing, spread with topping. Cover with foil and bake at 375
degrees for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until lightly brown and firm.

For more information, contact the Miller County Extension Office, 870-779-3609 or
visit us in room 215 at the Miller County Courthouse. We're online at chadley@uaex.edu,
on Facebook at UAEXMillerCountyFCS/CarlaHaleyHadley, on Twitter @MillerCountyFCS or
on the web at uaex.edu/Miller.

By Carla Haley-Hadley County Extension Agent - FCSThe Cooperative Extension
ServiceU of A System Division of Agriculture

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension
office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible
persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national
origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information,
or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Employer.